Anxiety and stress are two serious issues that almost everyone faces at least once in their lifetimes. While there are many things in life that will make you stressed and anxious, there are also many ways to deal with these feelings. Our favorite ways consist of doing some healthy food choices and consuming foods that are helpful to keep you feeling calm. In this article, we will talk about 5 foods that can help calm your stress and anxiety.
1- POULTRY
If you are not a vegetarian, then poultry is already a part of your life. It is considered a great source of tryptophan, which is an amino acid that cannot be naturally found in your body. It is necessary for your body to create serotonin, which is a chemical that helps to regulate the mood. The more tryptophan your brain has, the better the circuits are at using serotonin, which makes your moods improve. It is recommended that you consume organic poultry which does not contain any antibiotics or hormones.
2- BERRIES
This type of fruit is considered as one of the richest sources of antioxidants. Include a wide variety of berries to have broader antioxidant protection for your brain. The berries that are highest in antioxidants are strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. The high amount of antioxidants has the ability to protect not only your body but also your brain against oxidative stress, and toxic pollutants.
3- DARK CHOCOLATE
Chocolate is considered comfort food for many. The taste found in chocolate is said to produce a state close to euphoria in many people. In fact, dark chocolate is packed with extra benefits as it is full of fiber and protein. It has the ability to improve the blood flow to the brain and to support healthy cognition and a positive mood. Many studies and researches have proven that dark chocolate can decrease the production of cortisol. It also increases the brain’s release of endorphins and dopamine, and improves serotonin levels, contributing to a calm and better mood.
4- GREEN TEA
Green tea is not only good to improve your digestion, but it also calms your brain. GABA is a calming neurotransmitter found in green tea, and l-theanine helps reduce worry and stress and improve your overall focus, memory, mental alertness and mood. this drink is one of the different varieties of tea, which most of them have calming and similar functions to green tea. In case you feel like consuming a different taste, try red, black or chamomile tea which are equally rich in antioxidants.
5- LEAFY GREENS
Leafy greens are varied but have lots of benefits for the brain and the body. Spinach, whether raw or cooked, is rich in magnesium that helps moderate the mood. It is very nutritious and is considered a good source of Vitamin A, fiber, folate, potassium, and of course magnesium.
You can add to your leafy greens differently colored vegetables like squash, broccoli, bell peppers, and cauliflower, to increase the benefits. These will give you enough carotenoids, essential minerals, free-radical blocking antioxidants, and vitamins to protect your brain from negative feelings.
